Is there a way to patch a fiberglass sand pool filter?

June 21, 2004 8:06 AM

I have a sand pool filter that is made out of fiberglass. It has sprung a couple pinhole leeks. Is there any easy way to patch it up? [more inside]

This pool and filter came with the house I recently bought. After vacuuming out the old sand and placing new sand in the filter, I noticed two pinhole leaks towards the bottom of the filter. I would really prefer to patch the holes in the filter so I can enjoy the pool soon. Is this possible with fiberglass?

posted by jasonspaceman to sports, hobbies, & recreation (6 comments total)

you could make soup.

sorry.

posted by mdn at 8:23 AM on June 21, 2004

Some thing like this fiberglass repair kit should fix the leaks with no problem. I've seen them on sale at auto parts stores and at Wal Mart in the automotive section.
posted by Sirius at 8:58 AM on June 21, 2004

Hmm, not sure about fibreglass, but I had a similar problem with my filter when I moved into the house. After trying Plumbers Goop, and various different kinds of sealant over the course of 2 years, I gave up and bought a new filter. Best decision I ever made. Easier to maintain, pressure is up, pool is cleaner. The filter container itself isn't that pricey.. it's the dial valve on top that hikes the price. Unfortunately I need both... hope you are luckier.

On Preview.. the fibreglass repair kit may not hold for long at the crazy pressure a pool filter operates at.
posted by sonicgeeza at 9:02 AM on June 21, 2004

I should think that if you open the shell, empty the sand, given the area around the hole a bit of a scuff, and then plop some goop on it, it'll seal. The pressure will just help force the goop into the hole, sealing it even better.
posted by five fresh fish at 9:39 AM on June 21, 2004

The above solutions are good, except that the pin-hole leaks are most likely the first signs of complete failure of the fibreglass itself, probably due to poor quality workmanship in the initial construction. You can try to patch it with a fibreglass repair kit, but may end up patching it again before long. And again, and again. If you can, it would be best to replace the unit now. If not, consider any repair temporary and start shopping around for a new filter. Maybe you can replace it during the winter, when you can sometimes get better prices for pool equipment at sales.
posted by dg at 3:55 PM on June 21, 2004

Two thoughts on that:

- a spray-latex liner, or maybe even one of those spray-on pickup truck bed liners, would be a good sealant, if they aren't going to do Really Nasty Things to swimmers.

- building a box around the fiberglass globe -- if this thing looks like what I think it looks like -- and packing said box with fine sharp sand may give it enough support to keep it hobbling along until you score a great deal on a new filter.

I'm no pool technician, so I may very well be talking out my ass.
posted by five fresh fish at 6:55 PM on June 21, 2004